LEP BOARD MEMBER RECIEVES QUEEN'S AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE

This prestigious award recognises the growth, and commercial success of Radio Design's business overseas which, with local presence in India, China and Finland, now represents 65% of the company's total sales. This unique second award for the business is for International Trade, and complements the company's first award in 2011 for Innovation.

HRH, The Duke of York, visited the company's base in the UNESCO world heritage site at Salts Mill, to mark Radio Design's receipt of the Queen's Award and recognise the significant growth the business has experienced in recent years.

The Queen's Award was presented to Eric Hawthorn by Professor Bob Cryan, Deputy Lieutenant, University of Huddersfield Vice-Chancellor and LEP Board member, in the presence of HRH, The Duke of York.

Eric Hawthorn enthused: "It is a tremendous honour to welcome HRH The Duke of York to Radio Design and have the opportunity to showcase the technology and innovation taking place here in Leeds City Region.

"Having established the business in 2007, I am immensely proud of all we have achieved and being awarded a second Queen's Award is testament to the hard work of all our staff - here and overseas.

"This award encourages us to continue on our growth journey and work with all our partners to shape the future of our business in international markets. We will continue working with the LEP to share our experience and knowledge of innovating new products and trading internationally to encourage others starting out to follow suit."

Roger Marsh, Chair of the LEP added: "We are very fortunate to have world leading businesses like Radio Design on our doorstep and I am delighted this has been recognised with such a prestigious award from Her Majesty the Queen.

"This is not only a great achievement for Eric and his team, but a real coup for the Leeds City Region, further cementing our position as a great place to do business with a world class high technology manufacturing presence.

"Personally I am delighted to welcome HRH, The Duke of York back to Leeds City Region following the launch of the LEP's apprenticeship programme in spring last year. We are grateful for his continued support to help us achieve our ambition to grow the regional economy and support ambitious businesses."

Radio Design, a world leading manufacturing company specialising in supplying radio frequency filter solutions and hardware repair services to the international telecommunications industry, has seen exponential growth over the past eight years, going from a team of 11 in Shipley to a global firm employing over 300 people worldwide.